Wooster Finishes Off No. 19 Mount Union, 79-73

WOOSTER, Ohio – Al Van Wie/Wooster Rotary Classic Most Valuable Player Jamir Billings' game-clinching contributions at both ends of the floor helped The College of Wooster men's basketball team hold off 19th-ranked University of Mount Union in Saturday's 79-73 win by the Fighting Scots at Timken Gymnasium.

Billings looked to work the clock in the final minute, then dribbled right through Mount Union's (3-2) entire defense for an open layup to make it 76-71 with 48 seconds remaining. Next, Marcus Steele lost track of the Scots' star point guard, leading to an easy tap away steal. Junior Jaiden Cox-Holloway was fouled after collecting possession and made it 78-71 at the line. Later, a pair of desperation quick-trigger Mount Union 3-pointers had zero chance of going in.

Earlier, Wooster (4-0) was in complete control, thanks largely to Billings, who went 6-of-9 from beyond the arc. The senior knocked down consecutive 3-pointers late in the first half, with his pullup at the 4:30 mark staking Wooster to a 32-17 lead. All-tournament team member EJ Kapihe's hook shot in the final minute of the first half pushed Wooster's advantage back to double digits at halftime. Kapihe's bucket followed a Billings step-back triple that had Wooster ahead 35-22 when the clock reached 1:55.

Mount Union did not go away quietly, pulling within one at four different points in the second half. Wooster scored points on each ensuing possession. First, senior Nick Everett's dunk made it 68-65 with 4:40 to go. Junior Isaac Roeder's floating jumper fell with 3:15 on the clock to make it a 70-67 game. Next, Price free throws pushed Wooster's lead back out to three with 2:23 remaining. Then, Cox-Holloway found Everett down low for a hard-earned layup that made it 74-71.

Billings' 22 points were the game high. He finished 8-of-14 from the floor, secured eight defensive rebounds, and passed out six assists. Everett, who was the tournament's most outstanding defensive player, followed with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Price (10 points) and Kapihe (nine points, seven rebounds) joined the talented duo on the all-tournament team.

Wooster shot 50.8 percent (30-of-59) from the floor en route to improving to 4-0 for the first time since the 2018-19 season. Wooster dominated Mount Union 35-22 in rebounding and had 15 second-chance points to just two for the Purple Raiders.

Christian Parker was Mount Union's representative on the all-tournament team. He scored 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting before fouling out with 2:23 remaining.

Mount Union shot 53.4 percent (31-of-58) for the game and had 16 turnovers.

Wooster snapped a three-game series slide against Mount Union, scoring its first win over the Purple Raiders since an 80-73 victory on the opening day of the 2014 Al Van Wie/Wooster Rotary Classic.

La Roche University (2-5) beat Bluffton University (0-4) 95-81 in the consolation game. La Roche's Michael Brooks scored 25 points to snag a spot on the all-tournament team. Michael Stammen logged a game-high 27 points to pace Bluffton. Nevin Robson had 14 points and seven rebounds for the Beavers to garner a spot on the all-tournament team for steady contributions in both games of the tourney.

Next, Wooster starts North Coast Athletic Conference play with a 7 p.m. home game against Oberlin College (5-0) on Saturday, November 30.